Tag: IARC

With the Stop Glyphosate! European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), the Commission is asked to introduce a ban on the use of glyphosates in Member States, to reform the procedure on pesticide approval, and set goals on compulsory use of pesticide reduction at EU level.

In the case of Italy, we would like to remind you that the Ministry of Health’s ban on the use of phytosanitary containing glyphosate is not enough (Gazzetta Ufficiale Italiana, August 2016). If the ban is not put in place at European level, products containing glyphosate may still be exported from other Member States.

An IARC report (International Agency for Research on Cancer) of the World Health Organisation defined glyphosate as potentially carcinogenic for human beings. Test results from urine samples carried out – at the Bremen University Medical Centre (Germany) – over 18 Member States confirm that at least 44% of those tested carry traces of glyphosate. Proportions naturally vary from country to country with Malta, Germany, Great Britain and Poland high up in the ranking, with Macedonia and Switzerland among the last,

We would like to remind those who believe the danger is still not scientifically confirmed, that as the precautionary principle regulates – or simply common sense – we are not asking them to cease consuming products containing glyphosate (they are free to keep doing as they wish), but simply not to absurdly force others to do so. Moreover we insist that the danger of pesticides should be evaluated and verified in a transparent manner and not in labs of manufacturing industries or in those financed by these industries.

In February the SIP Forum Newsletter had alerted readers and SIP Forum members on the crucial importance of definitely banning glyphosate, and launching the ECI. The campaign is still ongoing, and over 700.000 signatures collected from January until now, over all Member States.

Unfortunately, the pace is weaker in Italy, and there is the risk not to reach the minimum number of signatures required according to ECI rules.